Apparatus for making prints from photographic negatives



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INVENTORS RICHARD WICK BY ROLAND KOHLER Jul 8, 1969 R. WlCK ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTS FROM PHOTOGRAPHIG NEGATIVES Fild Dec. 5. 1965 Sheet 2 of 2 n PAL-CODING wv/T 72 DEVELOPING ulwr JPL/CM/C 73 -75 u/v/r PW a INT/N "R Fig.4

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23 JOkrma N umr INVENTOR5 RICHARD VMICK BY ROLAND KOHLER UTHMAR SCHNEIDER United States Patent US. Cl. 355--29 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for making paper prints from negatives on photographic film comprises a precoding unit which encodes on each film information including a frame positioning mark adjacent to each satisfactory negative, a developer for films, a splicer which joins developed films into a strip, a main printer which automatically scans the positioning marks and exposes the images of corresponding negatives onto print paper, a resettable counter which counts the positioning marks of successive films in the strip and actuates a second printer which applies corresponding serial numbers to the rear sides of prints, and a device which transports a correction strip serving to store information pertaining to serial numbers of negatives which yielded unsatisfactory prints and correction factors for renewed exposure of corresponding negatives in the main printer.

The present invention relates to apparatus for making prints from photographic negatives. More particularly, tthe invention relates to improvements in automatic prodduction of paper prints.

It is already known to provide a printer for making paper prints from negatives on roll film wherein the film is conveyed in stepwise fashion and wherein the conveyor is automatically arrested in response to detection of frame positioning marks. The conveyor is set in motion in response to completion of consecutive exposures onto print paper. Such automatic feed of roll film saves much time and can be carried out without supervision. It is also known to provide each print with a mark which identifies the print by customer number or by serial number so as to prevent a mixup in sorting of finished prints. However, the devices which apply such customer numbers or serial numbers must be manipulated by hand.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically applying to each print a customer number and/or serial number so that such operation can be carried out without resorting to supervising personnel and at the same speed at which the negatives are being exposed onto print paper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for two or more interconnected films may be processed in a fully aautomatic *way, not only to expose the negatives onto print paper but also to provide each print with a customer number, with a serial number and/ 3,454,336 Patented July 8, 1969 cation of films, of individual negatives and/ or prints may be applied in readily detectable and decipherable form so that such information may be scanned and decoded by automatic means.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for making paper prints from photographic negatives wherein unsatisfactory negatives may be bypassed in a fully automatic way and wherein each satisfactory negative may be automatically placed in an optimum position for exposure onto print paper.

A further object of the invention is to construct and assemble the apparatus in such a way that nearly all operations may be carried out by automatic printing, coding scanning, detecting and decoding devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the just outlined characteristics wherein envelopes, boxes or analogous containers for finished prints and negatives may be imprinted in a fully automatic way and wherein such containers may be automatically advanced to the station where they receive the prints and/ or the negatives.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel system of precoding devices for use in an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics and to provide novel scanning, decoding and printing devices Which may be used in combination with such precoding devices.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a large number of color films and/or black and white films may be processed within short periods of time and wherein such processing may be carried out with a minimum of manual work and without any danger of mispla-cing the prints and/or negatives, of mixing up the films which were sent in or delivered by different customers, and/or of sending out unsatisfactory prints and/ or prints reproduced from unsatisfactory negatives.

Briefly stated, one feature of our present invention resides in the provision of an automatic apparatus for making paper prints from photographic negatives. The apparatus comprises means for precoding a plurality of strip-shaped customer films each of which includes a series of negatives by providing such films with precoded information preferably including a customer code number, a code mark in the region of the customer code number, and a frame positioning mark in the region of each satisfactory negative, means for splicing the thus precoded films into an elongated strip, means for convey- Y ing the resulting strip through a printing station, means or with any other suitable information which facilitates sorting of finished prints and their storage with the corresponding negatives.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein each customer film may be provided with identifying symbols even before the film is removed from for decoding the information as the strip passes through the printing station, and means utilizing such information for properly positioning the negatives, for exposing the negatives onto print paper to form prints, and for providing the prints with customer numbers, serial numbers and/ or other desirable information.

.The customer code numbers are preferably punched in binary code, and such code numbers are preferably punched into the leading ends of the films before the films are withdrawn from their magazines and while the leading ends extend from the respective magazines.

At the printing station, the strip is scanned for the presence of code marks and, on detection of a code mark, the corresponding film is scanned for the presence of the customer code number. The strip is preferably conveyed in step-by-stcp fashion and is arrested whenever the scan ning system detects a frame positioning mark. During the intervals, the corresponding negative is exposed onto print paper and a customer number and/or other information is applied to the print paper to facilitate rapid identification of prints subsequent to chopping.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however,

both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of two customer films which are about to be spliced to form an elongated strip;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a key to a customer code number which may be punched into each film;

FIG. 3 illustrates the strip upon completion of the spicing operation; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a highspeed printing apparatus in highly schematized form.

FIG. 1 shows portions of two exposed 35-mm. films 1 and 2 which are assumed to have been sent in by the customers. The film 1 is already developed and comprises a series of satisfactory negatives 5a (only one shown) and a last negative 5 which is not satisfactory for making of paper prints. The numerals 4 denote perforations in the trailing portion of the film 1 which were engaged by conventional film clamps during the developing step. The film 1 is further provided with two rows of marginal perforations 3 which are engaged by the transporting mechanism of the camera during picture taking.

The second film 2 is of identical configuration and its leading end is also provided with perforations 4 for film clamps. In addition, the leading end of the film 2 is provided with a customer code number 6 in binary code and with a code mark 7 which is punched into one edge in the region of the customer code number 6. The negatives 5b on the film 2 are of the same size as the negatives 5a on the film 1. The code number 6 and the code mark 7 are preferably punched into the leading end of the film 2 prior to developing, i.e., even before the remainder of the film 2 is withdrawn from its customary cartridge or magazine.

The code number 6 consists of several rows of punch holes. Such rows extend transversely of the film 2, and their number preferably does not exceed four. FIG. 1 shows a maximal number of sixteen punch holes, i.e., four holes for each row. By omitting one or more holes and/or by combining the holes in accordance with a predetermined pattern, the numbers 6 on consecutive films may consistitute binary notations each of which represents a different coded customer number. In the illustrated embodiment, the number 6 represent a four-digit customer code number. The position of the mark 7 with reference to the customer code number 6 is such that, once the mark 7 is detected, the code number 6' is in requisite position for detection by a suitable mechanical, pneumatic or photoelectric scanning device as will be fully described hereinafter.

FIG. 2 illustrates, by way of example, a key to a binary code. It will be seen that different combinations of punch holes and/or unpunched zones represent the numerals one to nine. Thus, and by reading the code number 6 of FIG. 1 with reference to the key shown in FIG. 2, one notes that the number 6 indicates the number 9999 in decimal arithmetic. Such a four-digit number normally suffices in an average printing establishment for a reasonably long period of time without risking a mixup of prints and/or negatives. However, it is obvious that the code number 6 may be replaced by a five-digit or even six-digit number.

FIG. 3 shows an elongated strip which is obtained upon s'pilcing of films 1 and 2. The two films are severed along the line 8 shown in FIG. 1 and are thereupon joined endto-end by a tape 9 of adhesive material. The tape 9 overlies the adjoining end portions of the films 1 and 2.

Each of the two films is further provided with punched frame positioning or frame index marks 10. Such marks 10 are provided in the other edge of the respective film, i.e., one edge is provided with the code mark 7 and the other edge is provided with the marks 10. The marks 10 .4 are scanned by the conveyor of the printing apparatus and serve to initiate stoppage of the strip including the films 1 and 2 in optimum position for exposing the respective negative 5a or 5b onto print paper. Each mark 10 assumes a predetermined position with reference to the corresponding negative 5a or 5b.

FIG. 4 illustrates various devices or instrumentalities which together constitute the improved high-speed printing apparatus. The numeral 11 denotes a precoding unit which receives exposed customer films (such as 1 and 2) while the films are still accommodated in their magazines. It is assumed that the leading end of each film extends from its magazine so that a suitable punching device of the precoding unit 11 may apply the customer code numbers 6 and the code marks 7 before the films are withdrawn from their magazines for developing of negatives. Each code numbers 6 may correspond to a four-digit number ranging from 0000 to 9999.

The precoding unit 11 further accommodates a supply of customer envelopes or boxes which ultimately receive the prints and the corresponding negatives, as well as a first printing device which provides each consecutive envelope with an uncoded customer number, for example, with the number 9999 for the customer who has sent in the film 2 of FIG. 1. The printing device of the precoding unit 11 is operatively connected with the punching device which applies the code numbers 6 so that the uncoded number on each envelope corresponds to the coded number on the corresponding film.

The arrow 15 denotes an auxiliary conveyor which advances imprinted envelopes from the unit 11 to a chopping unit 22 where the films are severed to yield individual negatives or groups of negatives and are introduced into the respective envelopes.

The films 1, 2 etc. are then advanced by a conveyor 16 which delivers them to a developing unit 12 of known design. This unit 12 comprises means for individually developing and drying the films, and such films are then advanced to a splicing unit 13 where the films are joined to form a continuous strip in a manner as described in connection with FIG. 3. In the splicing unit 13, the films are sorted according to the size of negatives and the films with negatives of the same size are spliced together in a manner well known from the art of treating motion picture films. At the same time, each film passes an observation post where an operator punches the frame positioning marks 10, always in a predetermined position with reference to the corresponding satisfactory negatives. Only satisfactory negatives are identified by marks 10. This work is preferably done by hand because the spacing of negatives on a film is seldom uniform or, at least, such spacing is not uniform on all of the films. The person in charge observes the running film to see whether or not the variations in spacing between consecutive negatives exceed a permissible range and the operator adjusts the punch for the marks 10 by hand whenever necessary. The same person also controls the operation of the punch for the marks 10 by preventing the application of such marks in the region of unsatisfactory negatives. For example, the punch may include an electric circuit which can be opened by a contact controllable by the hand of the operator so that the circuit is completed only when a satisfactory negative passes the observation window. The strip consisting of spliced films 1, 2, etc. is coiled up into a large roll which is then transferred to a second or main printing unit 14. The splicing operation is carried out in such a way that the customer code number 6 is located at the leading end of the film on the aforementioned roll, i.e., at that end which is first to be uncoiled from the roll.

At the start of the printing operation in the main printing unit 14, the leading end of the outermost film on the roll of convoluted strip stock is manually introduced into the printing station, and the unit 14 also comprises a sensing device which is arranged to detect the code mark 7 and to actuate a second sensing device which detects the corresponding customer code number 6. A decoding device then actuates a printing device which applies the customer number in uncoded form to all such prints which are being made by exposing the negatives of the first film. For example, and assuming that the film 1 is the first film of the convoluted strip, the customer code number at the leading end of the film 1 (but in uncoded form) will be imprinted on each paper print which is made by exposing satisfactory negatives 5a of the film 1 onto photographic paper. Thus, each print is immediately identified by an uncoded customer number and can be readily located for insertion into the corresponding envelope.

As soon as the customer code number 6 is detected by the corresponding scanning or sensing device of the main printing unit 14, a conveyor feeds the strip in stepwise fashion and is arrested whenever a further scanner detects a frame positioning mark 10, i.e., whenever the corresponding negative 5a is in requisite position for exposure onto print paper. The scanning device for the marks 10 also triggers the actual exposure whereby the required exposure time is selected in a fully automatic way. When the exposure is completed, the conveyor again advances the strip by a step so that the next negative 5a moves into proper position for exposure onto print paper.

As a rule, the manufacturing plant which produces the films 1 and 2 provides one marginal portion of the film with serial numbers each of which denotes a film frame. Such numerals are applied by a photographic process. It is known to apply such serial numbers in binary code so that they may be readily detected by a suitable tracking or scanning device. The main printing unit 14 comprises a further mechanical, pneumatic or photoelectric scanner which can detect such serial numbers and actuates a decoding device for a further printing device which applies serial numbers onto the rear sides of the corresponding prints.

Alternatively, the main printing unit 14 may be equipped with a counter which counts the number of frame positioning marks 10 and is coupled with and operates a printer which applies corresponding numerals to the rear sides of the prints. The counter is resettable to zero in a fully automatic way whenever the scanner for customer code numbers 6 detects a fresh number, whenever a freshly convoluted strip consisting of several films is introduced into the main printing unit 14, or whenever a strip is removed from the unit 14.

The rolls of exposed print paper are then introduced into a developing unit 17 and are developed in a manner Well known from the art. Once developed and dried, the strips of print paper are fed through a control unit 18 where a person in charge visually inspects each print for quality. Satisfactory prints are allowed to continue their advance through and past the unit 18. However, unsatisfactory prints are held back and the serial number as well as the customer code number of each such unsatisfactory print are applied to a correction strip by means of a suitable printer. The correction strip also receives and stores information pertaining to exposure correction during reprinting of faulty reproductions. The correctionstrip and the corresponding strip of spliced films are advanced in the directions indicated by arrows 20, 19, i.e., back to the main printing unit 14. However, it is equally possible to feed the correction strips and the corresponding strips of spliced films to a separate printing station. A person in charge of such separate printing station or in charge of reproducing unsatisfactory prints in the main printing unit 14 then manually adjusts the exposure time to make sure that the second print will be satisfactory.

By utilizing the aforementioned counter means, the apparatus of our invention can apply readily identifiable serial numbers to consecutive prints, preferably in binary code or in another automatically detectable form. Such serial numbers need not coincide with serial numbers which are applied by the manufacturer of films. In making second prints which replace unsatisfactory prints, the reprinting unit will simply count the number of frames on a strip until the desired negative moves to a requisite position for exposure onto print paper.

If the counter is reset to zero in response to detection of a customer number 6, the numbers applied to the prints are the same as or analogous to the customer number and/or serial numbers. On the other hand, and if the counter is reset in response to removal or insertion of a complete strip consisting of several films, the prints will be identified by numbers coresponding to the numbering of strips.

Since the percentage of unsatisfactory prints is very small, the time spent for renewed printing is negligible. The second prints are then conveyed through the units 17 and 18 in the same way as described in connection with the first prints.

As stated above, the coded serial numbers on the films 1, and 2 and/or the frame positioning marks 10 can be scanned and detected in a fully automatic way. The scanning means for such serial numbers and frame positioning marks may include mechanical, pneumatic or photoelectric scanning devices and actuate suitable printers which apply the numerals onto the rear sides of prints. The aforementioned correction strips also store information in readily detectable form and such information may include the customer code numbers, the serial numbers and data pertaining to proper exposure times. Therefore, the printer which makes second prints on the basis of information stored on correction strips can be operated in a fully automatic way provided of course, that the number of second prints in a reasonably large establishment warrants the utilization of automatic reprinting machinery.

Satisfactory rolls of print paper are thereupon conveyed to a chopping unit 21 wherein the rolls are subdivided into individual prints or groups of prints. This unit 21 may include a commercially available cutter which scans conventional marks at the rear side of the roll and severs the paper in accordance with the distribution of such marks.

A conveyor 19a advances the strips of spliced films 1, 2, etc. to the aforementioned chopping unit 22 where the strip is subdivided into individual negatives or into grOupS of negatives which are introduced into corresponding imprinted envelopes. The envelopes are supplied by the cOnveyor 15. For example, regular negatives in the size of 24 x 36 mm. may be severed in groups of six. If the size of negatives is different, the strip supplied to the chopping unit 22 may be subdivided into sections having the same length as a group of six regular negatives.

The number 23 denotes a sorting unit wherein all unsatisfactory prints are removed, discarded and replaced by second prints. Also, the prints are introduced into the corresponding envelopes and such envelopes are then ready for delivery to the customer or for storage.

All or nearly all components of the improved apparatus may be of the commercially available type and, therefore, their exact construction is not shown in the drawings. It was found that such apparatus can furnish an exceptionally large number of satisfactory prints per unit of time and that it requires a minimum of supervision, i.e., only such operations must be supervised which, according to the present state of art, cannot be performed and/or controlled by automatic machinery.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for making paper prints from negatives on photographic films, comprising precoding means for storing on each film coded information including a customer number and a frame positioning mark in the region of each satisfactory negative; splicing means for joining the films end-to-end; conveyor means for advancing the resulting strip lengthwise; a source of customer envelopes for receiving finished prints and the corresponding negatives; a first printer for applying to consecutive envelopes data corresponding to the respective customer numbers to facilitate identification of envelopes; and a main printer including scanning means for detecting said frame positioning marks and means for exposing said negatives onto print paper in response to detection of said frame positioning marks.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said precoding means is arranged to punch said customer numbers in binary code and to apply to each of said films a code mark in the region of the respective customer number, said first printer being arranged to provide said envelopes with uncoded customer numbers.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising decoding means for said customer numbers and a third printer operatively connected with said decoding means for applying customer numbers to corresponding prints.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said films is provided with marginally applied serial numbers for consecutive negatives thereon and wherein such serial numbers are applied in binary code, and further comprising decoding means for such serial numbers and a printer operated by said decoding means for applying serial numbers to corresponding prints.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means for resetting said counter means in response to admission of a fresh strip into said main printer.

'6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising resettable counter means for counting the number of frame positioning marks on consecutive films of said strip, means for resetting said counter means in response to detection of said customer numbers, and a printer controlled -by said counter means for applying serial numbers to corresponding prints, each of said customer numbers being applied to one end of the respective film.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a source of correction strip and means for storing on such correction strip information pertaining to the correction of exposure and the serial number of satisfactory negatives which yield usatisfactory prints.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said information isstored on the correction strip in automatically detectable form, particularly in binary code.

9. Apparatus for making paper prints from negatives on photographic film, comprising precoding means for storing on each film coded information including a frame positioning mark in the region of each satisfactory negative; splicing means for joining the films end-to-end so asto form a strip; conveyor means for advancing the strip lengthwise; a first printer including scanning means for detecting said frame positioning marks and means for exposing said negatives onto print paper to form prints in response to detection of said frame positioning marks; resettable counter means for counting successive frame positioning marks on said strip; a second printer controlled by said counter means for applying serial numbers to successive prints; a source of correction strip; and means for storing on such correction strip information pertaining to the correction of exposure and the serial number of satisfactory negatives which yield unsatisfactory prints.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said information storing means comprises manually operated means for encoding on the correction strip information pertaining to the correction of exposure upon visual observation of prints formed in said first printer.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second printer means is arranged to apply serial numbers to the rear side of prints.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second printer is adjustable and wherein said counter means is coupled with said second printer.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for returning said first mentioned strip to said first printer for repeated exposure of those negatives which yielded unsatisfactory prints in accordance with corresponding information stored on said correction strip.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said precoding means further comprises means for applying a code mark to the leading end of each film and further comprising means for resetting said counter means in response to detection of a code mark on said first mentioned strip while the latter is being conveyed through said first printer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,983,187 5/1961 Bone 8824 3,254,559 6/1966 Swiggett 8824 JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner. 

